OpiumOpium Poppy Soil Preparation And pH When growing opium poppies, the pH should be somewhere in the neutral range (about 7). You can use a soil pH meter A good way to stabilize soil is to use dolomite lime (calcium-magnesium carbonate). Dolomitic lime acts slowly and continuously, so soil will remain pH stable for up to a year. It is a good way to stabilize soil that is somewhere near 7.0 or lower. Using fine size dolomite lime is important, coarser grades can take a year or longer to work. You can find fine size dolomite lime at any well stocked garden supply center. Dolomite lime has been used by gardeners as a pH stabilizer for many years. It has a pH that is neutral (7.0). When added to soil in the correct proportions, it will stabilize soil at a pH near 7.0. Follow the manufacturers instructions when adding fine dolomite lime to your soil. After the application, wait for a day or two (minimum) before checking the pH. To lower soil pH: If the pH is higher than 7.0, small amounts of composted leaves, cottonseed meal, or peat moss will lower the pH of soil. To raise soil pH: If the pH is lower than 7.0, small amounts of hardwood ashes or crushed oyster/egg shells will help to raise the soil pH. Hydrated lime can also be used, in small quantities (per manufacturers instructions), to raise the soil pH. If in doubt, use less rather than more. Wait for at least a day or two before checking the pH level of soil after attempting to raise, lower or stabilize it. If adjustments still have to be made, use small amounts of whatever material you are using. If you can, try to prepare the soil a few months in advance of planting. Growers who plan to start their plants in spring could prepare the soil in the fall prior to planting. Growers who plan to start their plants in fall could prepare the soil in the spring/summer prior to planting. Then before planting, check the pH and make any necessary minor adjustments. Things like decaying vegetation (leaves, etc) will change the pH of soil. If you have to plant right away and don't have time to prepare the soil, don't worry, plant the seeds and see what happens. Chances are, the opium poppies will grow very well in soil that has previously been used to grow other types of plants successfully. The requirements of the opium poppy are similar to many types of garden plants. In most cases only minor adjustments are needed in good gardening soil. When you get the opportunity, check the soil pH and see if it will need any adjusting for the following growing season. Related Books Hydroponic Heroin: Grow Opium Poppies Without Soil A short history of opium is presented along with the risks of addiction, pain of quitting, obtaining materials, laws, dosages, overdose antidotes and more. Shows how to harvest raw opium from the opium poppies you have grown and describes how to convert the opium to morphine or heroin. Opium Culture Thorough instructions on how to prepare the opium for use and how to use an opium pipe for the purpose. Includes addiction, withdrawal and medical issues as well as cultural insights and a social history of opium. Opium for the Masses There is enough information about how to grow and harvest opium poppies for this to be used as a grow guide. For someone not interested in growing poppies, the book has good info on how to extract opioids from legally obtainable sources. Opium Poppy Garden Although less than 20 pages are about growing opium, it contains enough info to be used as a single introductory opium grow guide. If you grow poppies this book might be worth the price just for the page about how to harvest the opium capsule so it provides a maximum yield. |
to check. They range in price from about $20-$40 US, and can be used for years (thousands of times) before they break or have to be replaced because of a malfunction.